Electrical wall-bracket support



Nov. 20, V 1928.

H. DOLIER, JR

ELECTRICAL WALL BRACKET SUiPORT Filed Feb. 16. 1927 Fig. 4.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 29, 1928.

UNITED STATES p r. e as were Q slit pg 51 a s n. .414 a ELECTRICAL WALL-BRACKET SUPPORT.

Application filed February 16, 1927. Serial No. 168,590

This invention relates to electrical fixture devices and more particularly to such devices adapted to be mounted on wall structures.

Specifically the invention means to provide a simple and substantial. means for making the electrical connection between the supply wires and the wires leading to the light or other fixture and means separate from the electrical connecting means for securing the fixture bracket to the outlet box and maintaining them in predetermining alignment.

In a copending application Serial No. 16 J, 689, filed Feb. 16, 1927 I have shown means for securing the bracket to the outlet box and holding the connector members in proper position, said means passing through the con-- nector members and engaging with both the bracket and the outlet box.

The present invention enables me to produce a more simple structure, durable and strong, but at less cost since it will be noted I (in the preferred term) that no holes or openings are provided in theconnectors through which themechanical securing means are passed to secure the bracket to the outlet box. In my present invention, the means for securing the bracket and its supported fixtures light, etc, are passed outside the receptacle and plug members of the connector.

A further object is to provide a common means for attaching the bracket to the outlet box, ecuring the same in alignment and holding the connector against disengagement after the circuitcontacts have been made. The invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section of an outlet box with connectors in place and bracket attached.

Fig. 2 is aline on Ill-11 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a modified form of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of the connector plug member.

Proceeding in accordance with the drawings, 1 is an outlet box which may be of any shape or conventional type, 2 is a bridge piece secured to the outlet box by screws 3.

The bridge piece has connector receptacle,

member 4 secured thereto by screws 5. Receptacle member t has electrical contacts 6 adapted to connect with supply wires 7 and to be engaged with the contacts of the plug member as will be later described; 8 is the plug member and as shown in Fig. 1 is not attached to the bracket while in Fig. 3 it is attached to the bracket 9 the purposes of which will be later described. l /iresleading to the light are connected to contacts 10 of plug member8 while contacts 10 are secured to the plug by screws ll. Bracket plate 9 is provided with studs l2, projecting through openings in the bracket and threaded to be received by threaded openings 13 in the bridge piece 2 tor purposes later to be described.

The operation is follows:

@utlet box 1 is attached to the wall shown) in any conventional manner. Supply wires 7 are connected to contacts 6 of connector receptacle member 4, which latter is supported by bridge piece 2. The bridge piece is then secured to the outlet box by screws 3. Bracket plate 9 carries a light bulb (not shown) having circuit wires connected there-' to and extending underneath the br cket plate. At any convenient place, such as an electrical shop or other work room these lat- (not ter wires are connected to contacts 10 of con nec'lor plug member 8.

The con'lplete l5 racket-light-plug member assembly is then brought to the point of installation and contacts 10 of the plug member pushed into circuit making relation with contacts '6 of the connector receptacle 4:, the bracket plate positioned over the outlet box and studs 12 screwed into their seats in the bridge piece 2; Thus it will be seen a simple single movement in a single plane results in making 01' thecircuit to the light bulb and the bracket likewise being positioned... The screws 12 also secure the bracket plate with its supported fixtures in alignment with the outlet box. These screws 12 may or may not be provided with eyesor slots as desired.

As modified in Fig. 3, outlet box 1 is provided with a threaded opening on seat 14 into which a longer stud 12" is screwed, the latter passing through the opening 13 in the bridge piece 2 which need not be threaded in this in stance. A further modification is shown in F ig. 3 at 15 which shows a boss secured to the back of the outlet box to provide a more substantial seat for stud 12 In. Fig. 3 plug member 8 is secured to bracket plate 9 by means of screws 16-17 and bridge piece 18. In other respects the operation is the same, since the light wires may be attached to the plug contacts either before or after the plug 8 is attached to the bracket plate. In this form of my invention the bracket plate or light support may be formed integral with the light arm and light bulb seat and have bridge piece 18, Fig. 3, or its equivalent formed with or rigidly attached to the bracket, and plug 8 securely atfixed thereto, or plug 8 may be made integral with plate 9, the latter being of any preterred shape or contour, and thus provide an effective plug member bracket piece of integral, nature which may be attached by two studs as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In this manner my plug member becomes as it were also my bracket plate and the making of the contacts and in installing this latter unitary member, connections and contacts are made in the manner heretofore described.

Some manufacturers now design plug members with single openings through their center for carrying the circuit wires to the electrical contact members. Consequently I have shown in Fig. 1, the dotted line position of a stud 12 adapted to be passed through a single opening in bracket plate 9, registering with the opening through plug 8 and screwing'into a threaded seat in plate 2. If the hole through the plug is large enough the wires may also pass therethrough or they may be passed around plug 8 and secured to electrical contacts 10 by screws 11. Dowels integral withplate 9 may if preferred in the latter form of construction, displace studs 12 and seat in openings 13 to help support plate 9 and secure the same in alinement with outlet box 1.

The invention is of course susceptible to other modifications and the examples here given are not intended as all which might be given. Parts may be of modified design such as elimination of the bridge piece on the point of the outlet box and the provision of other suitable means for supporting one of the electrical connector members within or about the outlet box. Other modifications may also be made all of which I claim as tall within the scope and spirit of the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. An electrical apparatus comprising a current outlet box, a bridge piece carried by the box, a connector receptacle member supported by the bridge piece, a connector plug member adapted to be received by the receptacle member, a lamp supporting bracket plate covering the plug member and secured solely and directly to the bridge piece by means passing through the bracket plate, which may be manipulated outside said plate to secure the latter in a predetermined relation to the outlet box.

2. An electrical apparatus comprising a current outlet box, a bridge piece carried by the box, a connector receptacle member supported by the bridge piece, a connector plug member adapted to be received by the receptacle member, a lamp supporting bracket plate covering the plug member and secured to the outlet box by means extending through the bracket plate and the bridge piece, passing outside the connector members and engaging with the outlet box, said means being capable of manipulation outside the bracket plate when the latter is in position.

3. An electrical apparatus comprising a current outlet box, a bridge piece carried by the box, one part of a two part electrical connector carried by the box and bridge piece, the other part of the connector adapted to contact with said first part to connect a current circuit, a lamp supporting bracket piece adapted to form with the outlet box an enclosure for the connector and means passing through the bracket plate and outside the connector members to secure the outlet box and bracket piece in fixed relation.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

HENRY DOLIER, JR. 

